Asm. Lisa Swain

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Native Seed Commission within the Department of Agriculture to develop a plan increasing native seed production and use. The commission, made up of state agency heads and stakeholders (including seed suppliers, land managers, and conservation groups), will focus on boosting native seed availability for public projects like roadside landscaping, habitat restoration, and state land management. It must submit a final report with specific recommendations within one year of forming, aiming to make native seeds commercially available at reasonable prices. The commission expires 30 days after submitting its report.

Maddy summaryThis bill would create a standardized "pollinator-friendly" label for plants sold in New Jersey, requiring the Environmental Protection Commissioner (with Agriculture Secretary) to establish specific standards. These standards must prohibit or limit pesticides harmful to pollinators and define "pollinator-friendly" plants as native, non-invasive species. Retailers and distributors could only use the label on plants meeting these standards, which cover bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. The bill does not ban pesticides but sets requirements for labeling to help consumers identify pollinator-safe plants. (Note: The bill is currently pending in committee and has not yet been enacted.)

Maddy summaryThis bill requires data center owners and operators in New Jersey to submit semi-annual reports to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) detailing their water and energy usage. The reports must include specific metrics like total energy consumption (including cooling), water sources, and efficiency calculations such as "water usage effectiveness" (water used per computing task) and "energy reuse factor" (heat reused outside the facility). Data centers that receive state financial incentives must also report additional sustainability metrics, including average cooling temperatures and renewable energy usage. The law applies to all data centers operating in the state, with initial reports due 3-6 months after the bill takes effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3974) modifies New Jersey's renewable energy incentive programs to support solar development on specific land types. It allows multiple solar projects to co-locate on the same or adjacent properties without size restrictions, removes power output limits for projects on landfills, brownfields, contaminated sites, or mining sites, and requires projects on these sites to achieve commercial operation within 33 months (with automatic extensions for utility delays). Electric utilities must process interconnection applications for community solar and remote net metering projects within 90 days and complete interconnection within 30 days, facing $5,000 daily penalties for delays. These changes directly affect solar developers, utilities, and participants in New Jersey's community solar and remote net metering programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's renewable energy incentive programs to support solar development on specific sites. It allows multiple solar projects to co-locate on the same or adjacent properties (without size limits) for community solar and remote net metering programs, and removes size restrictions for solar projects on landfills, brownfields, contaminated sites, or mining sites. Electric utilities must process interconnection applications for community solar or remote net metering projects on 34.5kV or lower voltage lines. Projects on designated sites must achieve commercial operation within 33 months (automatically extended for utility-caused delays), with the timeline starting from program registration.

Maddy summaryThis bill restructures the governance of New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program by creating a new State Health Benefits Commission with 13 members. The commission will include existing state officials, representatives from local and higher education employers, and members appointed by various public employee unions, including specific seats for police and firefighters. A key provision is the addition of a non-voting expert member selected by the other commissioners to provide independent advice on health care plan design. The bill also establishes a new committee to assist with plan design and outlines how members will be appointed, serve terms, and manage conflicts of interest. Ultimately, the legislation aims to broaden representation and oversight in how the state manages health benefits for its employees.

Maddy summaryThe Climate Superfund Act (A 3735) holds fossil fuel companies liable for climate change damages by requiring them to pay compensatory payments into a state fund. Companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels during 1995-2026 and emitted over one billion metric tons of greenhouse gases must pay based on their proportional liability, with joint liability for companies in a "controlled group." Funds collected will be distributed to implement climate adaptation projects, such as flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs in overburdened communities. The Department of Environmental Protection will administer the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program to manage payments and fund these projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's existing requirement for health insurance plans to cover prostate cancer screenings without any out-of-pocket costs. It specifically requires coverage for annual screenings - including digital rectal exams and PSA tests - for men aged 50 and older (asymptomatic) and men aged 40 and older with a family history of prostate cancer or other risk factors. The law applies to most health insurance plans, including high-deductible plans where permitted by federal law, and mandates coverage "to the same extent as for any other medical condition." It does not alter existing coverage for other preventive services but ensures no cost-sharing (like deductibles or copays) applies to these specific screenings.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the enabling legislation for New Jersey's Infrastructure Bank by clarifying and expanding the definitions of specific project types it can fund. The changes directly affect local governments, airports, ports, and environmental agencies by providing clearer guidelines on what qualifies as an aviation, marine, or environmental infrastructure project. Key provisions include new definitions for terms like "combined sewer overflow" and "cross-investment," as well as a broader list of eligible entities such as regional transportation authorities and water districts. By refining these legal descriptions, the bill aims to streamline how the bank allocates funds for construction, repair, and improvement projects across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $4.5 million grant program to reimburse New Jersey school districts for costs incurred when expanding their procurement of locally grown food for students. It directly affects eligible school districts participating in federal meal programs (like National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs), requiring them to submit plans for new or expanded local food sourcing beyond current baseline levels. The program reimburses documented costs for minimally processed local foods (like fruits, vegetables, or grains grown in New Jersey), excluding fluid dairy milk. School districts must implement new policies to increase local food access during school meals or summer programs to qualify for reimbursement.